Every Che Guevara Needs A Fidel Castro, By Kelechi Deca

The biggest obstacle most revolutionary leaders across the world faced was the absence of a balancing figure. Someone whose presence keeps them in check. Someone who calls them to order. Someone who waters down their uncompromising stands and helps give direction to the causes they pursue.

Che Guevara's greatest success as a freedom fighter and guerrilla warlord extraordinaire was recorded in Cuba during the two years war against the Batista forces.

That success owe more to Fidel Castro's influence in his life. Castro was a natural born leader, infectiously charismatic but also more of a realist than Ernesto Che Guevara who is an uncompromising idealist.

Castro brought balance to Guevara's idealism which complemented the struggle and helped lay the foundation of one of the world's most successful revolutions.

When Che Guevara left Cuba, he was not so successful in Congo and even Mozambique. And in Bolivia, he couldn't convince same poor peasants he wanted to liberate on the need for their liberation. In Cuba, the peasants willingly bought into the revolution. In Bolivia, he failed and was captured and executed.

At the heat of the Cultural Revolution in China, Chairman Mao Zedong adorned the status of a deity. Nobody could question him and he never  saw anyone worthy of giving him advice. He listened to no one.

 His words became gospel that he even published The Little Red Book which captured his key speeches and unthinking, highly impressionable young people  became his foot soldiers by forming the Red Guards.

These young people  were encouraged to insult and abuse and sometime publicly humiliate anyone who disagrees with Chairman Mao's take on issues. A cult of Mao was born with a campaign to wipe out the “Four Olds” — ideas, customs, culture, habits.

Anti intellectualism and a disregard for cross pollination of ideas became the new religion. Empty sloganeering took the place of debate and discourse. And men like Deng Xiaoping were seen as dangerous to the cause. Those who should talk were cowed.

Before the final destruction of any given society, there will be the emergence of personality cult with a huge followership of an unquestioning multitude who sees anybody who dare to "think differently" as an enemy.

But every revolution will have its own "Gang of Four" moments before a counter revolution will oust it.

Anytime a given people or society chose empty sloganeering over deep quality intellectual and introspective debates .Their self-destruct mode is activated.